Eclipse of 2019

 It seems but a dream

The long night of your bleeding

And what of this wound

Was it a portend of doom

Or one of healing

The lunar eclipse from 2019

John Sauls

 John J Sauls migrated to Alachua County  from Orangeburg, South Carolina where he married Mary Jane Robinson. Born in 1825(1840  by other accounts),  John left his farm in Alachua County and enlisted in Brooksville, Hernando County as a  4th sergeant in Company C(Hernando Guards)(Wildcats) of the 3rd Florida Infanty on July 19, 1861. He was promoted to a full private in May 1862(reduced to ranks)  then furloughed to Hernando County and died of disease on Feb 3, 1863 in a Lake City hospital where he was buried in Oaklawn Cemetery. His wife Mary applied for a widows pension in 1903. His is one of the few marked headstones of many unknown  CSA markers.

Bob

 At ninety

For Bob

A good journey

Never to marry

The painter

Runner

Photographer

Treasure hunter

Is losing 

The memory

Of where went

The Kodachromes

The way home

Friends gone

Living alone

We sit silently

Wondering

Whatever would we do

Without TV

And I have not the

Heart to say

TV was obsolete 

When you were

Eighty.

Out alone

 Out alone in the winter rain,

Intent on giving and taking pain.

But never was I far out of sight

Of a certain upper-window light.

Robert Frost, The Thatch.

Steichen

 Steichen

On my wall hang two Steichen’s

You say, o my, of the great Edward?

The photographer?

I say no

Of the late Karen

All colored in markers 

Within the lines

Worthless by all estimates 

Priceless by one 

Recipient

Who thought enough of him.

Jordon

 Jordon at Big Shoals, Suwannee River.

Happy Birthday

Jordon

Today has come

The birthday of our son

So thankful there is one

With adventures yet to run

Yes we love our 

Stormy bank Son!

Jordon Stokes

Big Shoals

Spot of bother

 A spot of bother

Johnclarestokes 

I do not have the latest Lincoln, but I ain't gonna let that bother me. My tag is so expired, I lost it, but that’s no bother. My camellia's grow too far to pick above me, but that don't bother me. My bricks don't quite match, but it doesn't bother me. My roof only leaks when it rains, and thats not a bother. My yards all weeds, the mower was stolen, but why bother? You could have it as good as I do, but i ain't gonna bother you with that.

Just don’t want to be a bother.

Barred

 I'm a bar hunter

And what is the comment I get? Focus. We'll, you missed the purpose entirely for the lack of focus. You need to become a bar "barred" hunter and perhaps come off some of your sharp focus.

Driving Miss Daisy

 Your purpose

Before you expire

Find a mug

That doesn’t make

You look Daisies

Chauffeur

But then

Had I a Daisy 

I’d grow lazy

Waiting all the day

For her to say

John Boy

Crank the

rolls roy.

Rossi rains

 Rossi rains

The ditches soon became swift streams making their way downhill to the Price Creek which in turn sent the waters to Alligator Lake which in turn with its dry falls sinks and Rose creeks eventually meandered its way toward Itchetucknee who sent the Rossi rains on to the Santa Fe who in time offered them to Suwannee who never satiated in its flow finally gave an account of its work to the Gulf.

Aristides freeze

Aristides Freeze

The day upon the walk I carry no carrot

Why Aristides strides to the fence 

Rubbing his mane he nudges the pocket

Never leave Aristides in disappointment!

What call ye

 What call ye?

I’ve known those

who n’er took up

brush, camera or pen

and they were the

best of artists among men

I’ve known those

who took up

brush, camera and pen

and I could hardly call them

artists among men.

I’ve known a few

who truly were the artists

of brush

Camera

Pen

These the men

I thank God

to have called

my friend